Alyssa's ramblings...

Thoughts on Esther

We're reading the book of Esther at Home Group this month. This week we read the first two chapters, and talked about the main characters. There were so many differences between what the guys said about the King, and what the girls said about him!

Let me give you the low-down on the first two chapters of Esther. Basically, King Xerxes was having a feast for his servants and palace officials. He was half drunk, and sent his eunuchs to get Queen Vashti so he could show her off to his friends. She refused to go. He was furious, and banished her from the kingdom. He decided to get a new wife, so he got heaps of virgins to come and be in his harem. They all went through 12 months of beauty treatments before he saw them one by one. He saw Esther, and was so impressed that he made her Queen.

Now, here's what the guys said about the King - Man of the law, generous, show-off, partial to drink, takes counsel, proud of his wife's beauty, pervert, vain, picky, wants hot chicks, nice fella, loved women for appearance.

Here's what the girls said - Weak, disgusting, powerful, weak temper, pig, filthy, egotistical, sleazebag, leader, wise, rational thinker.

A bit of a difference?! You can see the girls got a bit emotional. We settled down at the end, though, because the guys were explaining that in those times, it was normal to do all of those things. Let's just say I'm glad I don't live in those times! I like being respected. :o)

We were also talking about the Biblical principal of submission. As we were discussing it, I realised that it's not as bad as I thought it was! I always thought that wives just have to do whatever their husbands say. But that's not what it's about. My fiancé was saying that it's this - when we don't agree on something, we'll sit down and talk about it, discussing and praying about both of our points of view. If we're both still adamant that we're right, I just have to give it over to my husband to make the final decision. Remember there's the God factor in that, we both have to have prayed about it, and be sure that our viewpoint is from God. So that's it. We may not even encounter a situation like that ever! As it is, I haven't encountered a situation like that before, and neither has my fiancé (as far as submitting to leadership is concerned). So it's not really that bad. :o) I'm happy. I'm sure there are those who abuse it, but I know that he won't.

Oh! My sister, flatmate and I are babysitting my brother's girlfriend's daughter this weekend! She's also our flowergirl, and her Mum (my brother's girlfriend) is one of my bridesmaids. But anyway, she's two. Gorgeous!

Anyway, I'd better get my nose to the grindstone! I have no idea what that means, but it sounds half decent.

posted by Alyssa @ 9:14 AM